Cartridge for endless tape having a notched edge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for an endless tape having a notched edge comprises two spools mounted on parallel axes and provided with peripheral protuberances mating with said notches. A motor is provided for driving one spool in one direction at a predetermined speed and a second motor is connected for driving the other spool in the opposite direction at a different speed when the first motor is inoperative. Gear or belt means are provided to drive either spool from the other.

PATENTED MAR 9197:

SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTEDMAR 91971 3,568,942

SHEET 3 [IF 3 @ARTRIDGE FOR ENDLESS TAPE HAVING A NOTCIED EDGE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a new magazine-cartridge in which an endless crenelated tape may be driven in either direction, said magazine-cartridge being characterized by the fact that it carries a plurality of coils, each having a substantially equal number of turns, which are connected together by small V-shaped flat loops positioned alternately at the level of the uppermost turns and of the lowermost turns of two adjacent coils.

in the case of two coils, the two V-shaped connecting loops are positioned symmetrically with respect to the intersection between the vertical plane in which the axes of the coils lie and a horizontal plane extending the median turns of said coils.

In the case of a number of pairs of coils at least equal to four, the axes of these coils are positioned at an equal distance from each other in a circle, each coil being connected to the two adjacent coils by loops connected to its uppermost turn and lowermost turns respectively.

Another characteristic of the new magazine-cartridge according to the invention resides in the fact that the different spools driving the coils all turn in the same direction, the adjacent coils being wound in opposite directions, so that each may be considered the mirror image of the other.

The various coils are synchronously driven by a central gear engaging internal teeth of gears mounted coaxially of the spools driving the various coils.

These driving spools may also be synchronously driven by a toothed belt engaging external teeth on coaxial gears of any suitable type, which have preferably a diameter greater than that of said driving spools, so that the toothed belt passes outside the connecting loops between the coils which run close to said spools.

The gearing or toothed belt drives are used to insure synchronous rotation of the various coils, one of which maybe driven by a forward speed motor, and the other by a rapid speed motor in the opposite direction.

The new magazine-cartridge may be provided with coils of any desired height, as distinguished from cartridges using a single coil, in which case the curvature of the loops between the two end turns limits the height of the coils. This characteristic makes it possible to provide continuous sound reproduction for a very long time, the division of the tape into several coils making it possible to reduce the length of time required to run the tape backward at high speed, by moving the magnetic head.

The cartridge is ordinarily driven forward for reading and backward at an increased speed by means of two motors, which turn in opposite directions and drive the axes of two of the spools the others being driven synchronously in one.

direction or the other by one of the connecting means herein before described.

Means for determining the position of the tape may be coupled to one of the driving spools, for example to the one holding the coil to be read.

The tape may carry several parallel tracks or only a single track travelling progressively from the inner edge to the outer edge of the endless tape.

The axes of the spools of the different coils are preferably journaled by means of rollers in the two covers forming the cartridge so as to allow the axes to swing slightly away from a position exactly perpendicular to said covers.

The reading head is positioned opposite a metallic plate provided with a felt pad separating part of the outer turn of one of the coils from the rest of the coil and pressing it against said head.

Several separation plates of this type may be provided for different coils, so that the recording head may be positioned to cooperate with any one of several coils, so as to reduce the time required to run the tape backward to return to some desired point thereon.

The cover which carries the reading head may be mounted for this purpose so as to pivot about a shaft connecting it to the opposite cover.

Another improvement to the new cartridge relates to the form of the notches in the tape and that of the bosses which drive the coils.

These notches are preferably trapezoidal instead of being semicircular or rectangular as has heretofore been the case. The speed at which the tape is driven may thus be more accurately controlled for both recording and reproduction.

Finally in order to avoid the accumulation of static charges due to friction between tape and the metallic plates or covers, the plates may be ribbed on both surfaces, except where they carry the felt pad facing-the magnetic head, and rollers may be provided inside the covers in order to reduce the surface area of the outer turns of the coils coming into frictional contact with these covers.

These rollers may be replaced by ribs for the sake of econo my. 7 The characteristics of the present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following description of two embodiments of the invention which embodiments are given purely by way of illustration and example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a magazine-cartridge carrying two coils, driven in synchronism;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the magazine-cartridge shown in FIG. 1, with its top cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same magazine-cartridge taken along line III-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a magazine-cartridge carrying 6 coils.

FIG. 1 shows that the cartridge comprises upper and lower covers 1 and 2, which are similar in form, diflering only in that the lower cover 2 is provided with an opening 3 for admitting a magnetic reading and recording head.

A flat plate 4 is provided near this magnetic head, and to the lower part of this plate is attached a felt pad, the outline of which is shown at 5 in FIG. 1.

This plate 4, with its felt lower lining, is inserted between the uppermost turn of one of the two coils, which is designated by reference numeral 6, and the adjacent turn, and urges the upper turn against said magnetic head.

The two surfaces of the plate 4 are provided with ribs (which are interrupted near the felt pads) so that the turn being read and the adjacent turn rub against only a minimal surface on the plate, so as to avoid the accumulation of static charges on the surface of the magnetic tape.

The other coil carries reference numeral 7.

The covers 1 and 2 are fastened together by screws 8 which screw into threaded posts 8a, the two covers being spaced by spacer sleeves 8b.

Between two of the sleeves 8b and the corresponding posts 8a is a flat plate 9, which is generally triangular in shape and has rounded edges.

The middle of this plate rests on a threaded post 10 on the cover 2, which cooperates with a screw 10a to maintain the plate 9 absolutely horizontal. This plate guides one of the loops connecting the coils 6 and 7.

In like manner, a second plate 11 on the other side of the coils rests on the two other posts 8a on the cover 2, with its central part resting on a post 12 which is higher than the post it), to allow for the thickness of the coils between the two plates 9 and ll.

The post 12 cooperates with a screw 12a to hold the plate 1] horizontal.

The height of the posts 8b is equal to the sum of the thickness of one ofthe plates 9 and 11, plus that of one of the coils.

These plates 9 and 11 may be replaced by a simple wire wound around posts on a single member, which posts replace the posts 8a and 8b.

The central parts of the plates 9 and 11 serve as guides for the two connecting loops 13 and 14 which are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a plane passing through the axes of the two coils, one above the uppermost turns, and the other below the lowermost turns of the two coils 6 and 7.

As has already been mentioned the spools l5 and 16 which drive the coils 6 and 7 turn in the same direction, whereas the two coils 6 and 7 are coiled in opposite directions, and may be considered to be symmetrical about a plane passing through the axes of the posts 10 and 12.

The spools and 16 are provided, on their lower sides, not shown in FIG. 1, with square holes adapted to fit onto two shafts 17 and 18, which are shown in FIG. 3.

These shafts l7 and 18 also carry two gears 19 and 20 mounted above the spools 15 and 16, and which cooperate with a toothed belt 21, by which the spools 15 and 16 are driven whenever one of the shafts 17 and 18 turns.

The square holes in 19 and 15, on the one hand, and 20 and 16 on the other hand, are so positioned that, after mounting, and seating of the gears 19 and 20 in the spools l5 and 16, these holes are aligned.

The toothed belt 21 travels in a plane above the zone occupied by the loop 13, as may be seen on FIG. 2.

The shafts l7 and 18 are journaled in the covers 1 and 2 by means of rollers 17a and 18a which act as bearings, thus facilitating the alignment of the said axes 17 and 18 with the shafts of the driving motors, since the threaded parts 17b and 18b pass through holes 22 and 23 which are large enough to allow a certain amount of play around the rollers 17a and 18a.

The length of the threads 17b and 18b is such that a commashaped cam can be mounted at a shortdistance from the cover 1. These cams are screwed down against shoulders shown at 17c and 180 on FIG. 1, and the ends of the threaded parts have axial holes 17d and 18d. The axes of the motors which turn the cams are centered in these holes.

Of course, the threads 17b and 18b are so oriented that when the motors turn in the direction in which they drive the cams they have no tendency to unscrew the cams.

As has already been pointed out, the coils and the spools 15 and 16 turn in the same direction, and this direction is determined by the direction of rotation of the driving motor being used, one of the gears being coupled to a relatively slow speed motor, for use when reading the tape, whereas the other gear is driven in either direction by a higher speed motor which makes it possible to locate any given point on the tape as quickly as possible.

The connection between the gears 19 and 20 made by the belt 21 causes the two reels to be synchronously driven in one direction or the other, regardless of which motor is driving.

The gears 19 and 20 are provided with downwardly projecting bosses 19a and 20a, which project into recesses formed in the central portions of the spools 15 and 16, as seen best in FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 also shows the ribs on opposite sides of the plate 4, which are indicated by reference numeral 24.

The lower ribs, not shown in FIG. 17 are interrupted where the plate contacts the felt pad 5, which is flush with the crests of the ribs, so as to be able to press the lowest turn of the coil 6 against the magnetic head in the opening 3, while the tape is being read."

The coils are kept at a suitable distance from the two covers 1 and 2 by rollers 3, which roll on the outer turns of the coils, thus avoiding any possibility that the tape will accumulate static charges due to friction between the tape and the covers.

Those of these rollers which are mounted on the lower cover are shown at 25 in FIG. 2.

The loop 14 facing the cover 2 is shown in broken lines on FIG. 2, whereas the loop 13 is shown in solid lines.

The toothed belt 21 travels, as has already been indicated above the loop 14.

The spools 15 and 16, which drive the coils are shown in broken lines, since they are behind the gears 19 and 20.

The plate 9 is shown in broken lines, whereas the plate 11 is shown in solid lines. The shafts 17b and 18b are both visible on FIG. 2, as are the screws 10a and 12a.

FIG. 2 also shows the screws 8 for mounting the plate 11 and the posts 8b at the comers of the plate 9.

Finally, the plate 4 is also shown in broken lines on FIG. 2.

The cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 shows two rollers 25, as well as the rotary bearings 18a.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows the superposition on the gears 15 and 16 of the gears 19 and 20 which engage the toothed belt 21.

At the top of FIG. 3 are two threaded shaft portions 17b and 18b, which are centrally bored to receive the centering cone 26 of the shaft 26a of a driving motor. The shaft 260 carries a pin 27 which acts on a cam 23 to drive the gears of the cartridge, as shown by way of example at the top of shaft 17b.

It will be seen that the turn being read" a the opening 3 is separated from the rest of the tape by the plate 4.

This turn, as well as the turn above the plate 4, touches only the crests of the ribs on the plate 4, except where the felt pad is positioned opposite the magnetic head. This arrangement reduces the accumulation of a static charge on the tape.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the six coils 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e and 6f are driven by gears 15al5f, which are themselves fixed to gears 29a29f which are driven in synchronism by a gear 20.

The different coils are connected to each other alternately at their tops by loops 14a, 14b and travelling above plates 9a, 9b and 9c, and at their bottoms by loops shown in broken lines at 13a, 13b and 130, travelling above plates 1 la, 11b, and He respectively. Ribbed plates 40, 4b, and 4c of the same type as the plate 4 of the first embodiment which prevent the accumulation of static charges, are provided at the level of coils 6b, 6c, 6d and 6f so as to permit rotation of the plate supporting the magnetic head with respect to the other plate which is assumed to be stationary, so as to bring the head into alignment with any one of these three coils.

Of course, it is possible, in order to even further decrease the time required to locate a desired point on the tape by rapid advancement, to provide plates of the type 4 for all of the coils, but it is generally preferable to limit the number of positions at which one of the two plates may be fastened relative to the other.

The possibility of rotating the plate 2a has been schematically represented by a broken line.

Means for holding the plate 2a stationary with respect to the lower plate are provided for each of the positions of the reading head opposite the plates 4a, 4b, 4c and such means are shown schematically at 30 30a, 30b, and 300.

It will of course be appreciated that the embodiments which have just been described have been given purely by way of illustration and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention.

The magnetic head may be mounted on the cover 1 instead of on the plate 2, by reversing the positions of the gears 19 and 20 and that of the comma-shaped driving cams, which may be positioned on the side of the plate 2.

I claim:

1. A magazine cartridge containing an endless tape having a notched edge, said cartridge comprisingat least one pair of coils of said tape, the coils of each pair being wound in opposite directions and having a substantially equal number of turns, each coil being connected at its top to an adjacent coil by a section of said tape and at its bottom to an adjacent coil by another section of said tape, spool means carrying said coils and rotatably mounted within said cartridge, means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously in the same direction, means connected to one of said spools for rotating them in one direction at a predetermined speed for reproduction and means connected to the other of said spools for rotating them in the other direction at a greater speed, each spool being provided with peripheral projections spaced to engage the notches in the edge of said tape, and said tape being coiled with its notched edge adjacent said spool and its major surfaces transversely disposed with respect thereto.

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which said spools are mounted on shafts journaled in opposed walls of said cartridge, the ends of said shafts carrying rollers mounted to swivel in said journals to facilitate their alignment with the driven shafts of motors constituting said means for rotating said spools.

3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that it comprises at least two plates positioned to guide the sections of said tape connecting adjacent spools.

4. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for indicating the position of the tape, said indicating means being connected to one of said spools.

5. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which the projections on said spool and the notches in said tape are trapezoidal in section.

6. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cover the inner surface of which is provided with rollers positioned to engage the ends of said coils. 7

7. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cover the inner surface of which is ribbed adjacent the ends of said coils.

8. Cartridge as claimed in claim! in which said spools are mounted on shafts projecting at one end outside said cartridge, said projecting end being formed with a centering recess for receiving the tip of the driven shaft of a motor and carrying a cam positioned to be turned by a pin mounted to be driven by said motor in a circle about said driven shaft.

9. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which the means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously comprise gear wheels which are coaxial with said spools, driven in synchronism, and drive said spools through shafts fixed to both said gear wheels and spools.

l0. Cartridge as claimed in claim 9 in which said means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously comprises a gear train connecting said gear wheels.

ll. Cartridge as claimed in claim 9 in which said means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously comprises a toothed belt connecting said gear wheels.

, l2. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one plate provided with ribs on each side and positioned to separate the endmost turn of the coil to be read and press it against a magnetic head, said plate being provided with a felt pad opposite said head.

l3. Cartridge as claimed in claim 12 comprising a cover made of two curved plates, on'eof. which is provided with an opening for receiving a magnetic head mounted to swing about the other curved plate, said spools being mounted on shafts which are loosely journaled in at least one of said covers, and means for locating said head carrying cover in any of a plurality of positions relative to said spools.

14. A magazine cartridge for an endless tape having a notched edge, said cartridge comprising a plurality of spools mounted to rotate on parallel shafts, the peripheries of said spools being provided with protuberances spaced to engage the notches in said tape when said tape is wound on said spools with its notched edge innermost, means for driving said spools in synchronism in different directions at different speeds, and means for separating a portion of said tape from the remainder thereof and pressing it against a magnetic head.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 568 ,942 Dated March 9 1971 Inventofls) Serge Leon Louis Cailliot It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading insert:

[32] Priority January 17 1968 [33] France [31] 136,439

Signed and sealed this 29th day of June 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pat I FORM PO-1D5O [10-69) ugrnu nr nna 

1. A magazine cartridge containing an endless tape having a notched edge, said cartridge comprising at least one pair of coils of said tape, the coils of each pair being wound in opposite directions and having a substantially equal number of turns, each coil being connected at its top to an adjacent coil by a section of said tape and at its bottom to an adjacent coil by another section of said tape, spool means carrying said coils and rotatably mounted within said cartridge, means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously in the same direction, means connected to one of said spools for rotating them in one direction at a predetermined speed for reproduction and means connected to the other of said spools for rotating them in the other direction at a greater speed, each spool being provided with peripheral projections spaced to engage the notches in the edge of said tape, and said tape being coiled with its notched edge adjacent said spool and its major surfaces transversely disposed with respect thereto.
 2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which said spools are mounted on shafts journaled in opposed walls of said cartridge, the ends of said shafts carrying rollers mounted to swivel in said journals to facilitate their alignment with the driven shafts of motors constituting said means for rotating said spools.
 3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that it comprises at least two plates positioned to guide the sections of said tape connecting adjacent spools.
 4. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for indicating the position of the tape, said indicating means being connected to one of said spools.
 5. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which the projections on said spool and the notches in said tape are trapezoidal in section.
 6. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cover the inner surface of which is provided with rollers positioned to engage the ends of said coils.
 7. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cover the inner surface of which is ribbed adjacent the ends of said coils.
 8. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which said spools are mounted on shafts projecting at one end outside said cartridge, said projecting end being formed with a centering recess for receiving the tip of the driven shaft of a motor and carrying a cam positioned to be turned by a pin mounted to be driven by said motor in a circle about said driven shaft.
 9. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which the means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously comprise gear wheels which are coaxial with said spools, driven in synchronism, and drive said spools through shafts fixed to both said gear wheels and spools.
 10. Cartridge as claimed in claim 9 in which said means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously comprises a gear train connecting said gear wheels.
 11. Cartridge as claimed in claim 9 in which said means constraining said spools to rotate synchronously comprises a toothed belt connecting said gear wheels.
 12. Cartridge as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one plate provided with ribs on each side and positioned to separate the endmost turn of the coil to be read and press it against a magnetic head, said plate being provided with a felt pad opposite said head.
 13. Cartridge as claimed in claim 12 comprising a cover made of two curved plates, one of which is provided with an opening for receiving a magnetic head mounted to swing about the other curved plate, said spools being mounted on shafts which are loosely journaled in at least one of said covers, and means for locating said head carRying cover in any of a plurality of positions relative to said spools.
 14. A magazine cartridge for an endless tape having a notched edge, said cartridge comprising a plurality of spools mounted to rotate on parallel shafts, the peripheries of said spools being provided with protuberances spaced to engage the notches in said tape when said tape is wound on said spools with its notched edge innermost, means for driving said spools in synchronism in different directions at different speeds, and means for separating a portion of said tape from the remainder thereof and pressing it against a magnetic head. 